Amusement apparatus



Aug., 27, 1935., E. c. FEY

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed oct. 1, 1954 6' alla INVENT'OTQT) m/m C f BY Y y ATTORNEY lits Patented Aug. 27, 1935 'unirse sTATss AMUSEMEN T APPARATUS Edmund Fey, San Fran cisco, Calif., assigner to Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application October 1, 1934, Serial No. 746,305 2 claims. (o1. 273-121) This invention relates to improvements in amusement apparatus.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved amusement device of the type employing a tilted game board with holes or goals therein and a plurality of playing pieces which are capable of being directed in accordance with the 'skill of the player into the goals.` Another object of vmy invention is to provide an improved amusement device of the typecharaC- terized, having automatic means associated therewith for dispensing merchandise or the likewhen a player has successfully directed a number of playing pieces into a certain goal.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved amusement device of the type characterizfed, embodying prize or merchandise dispensing vmechanism which is automatically operatedto reward a players skill in directing ,a

number of playing pieces into a goal.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an amusement device of the type characterized, having individual automatic latch unlocking means associated with each of its various goals which is capableof being actuatedupon the successiul directing of a number of playing pieces into a goal, thereby openinga door to a receptacle or compartment` where a prize o r article, of merchandise is located.

Other objects more or less apparent will present themselves or will be specically pointed out as this description progresses.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of amusement apparatus embodying the preferred form of my invention; v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of an inclined game board constructed in accordance with my invention;

` Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View takenfon the line 4 4 Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through a number of merchandise or `prize containing compartments of an end cabinet;

Fig.` 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 .o fu Fig. 5; and f Fig. '7 is a wiring diagram forming apart of my invention. I.

Referring to the drawingthe numerals l-I designate the sides of a suitably shaped casing game'board 8 are a number of barriers 'I6 each having a longitudinally disposed vertical partition 2 therein which is provided with a suitable opening 3 at its lower edge for the passage therethrough of spherical balls or playing pieces rolling downwardly over an inclinedchute or plate Il. Although not shown, suitable elevating mechanism of the type commonly employed in games of this type is used to raise the playing pieces passing through the Vopening 3 to positions where they may be struck by a spring pressed plunger"5`.` An operating handle 6 for actuating the elevating mechanism as well as a handle 'l carried by the spring pressed plunger 5 are located on the front side of the casing. Y Extending from the rear wall of the casing to a point near its frontside is a forwardly sloping game board 8 which is provided with aplurality Y of prearranged holes or goals 9 and I0.. A spring ybuier II is positioned to intercept playing pieces after they have been actuated by the plunger 5 around the top edge of the game board 8. v-Slidably supported at its" opposite side edges by projections or grooves locatedat opposite sidesjof the casing is a panel I2 which underlies the game board 8 and normally supports the playing pieces entering the holes or goals 9. Thepanel I 2 is provided with corresponding holes |21, which are capable of being brought into registrywith the holes 9 when the saidpanel I2 is actuated by a coinV slide member ,I3A in arearward direction. A' A spring I4 attached to a projection I5 on the panel I2 and to the front side of the casing servesto normally maintain the said panel `in` a position wherein its holes I2 are not in registry with the holes 9 of the game board 8, thereby affording means for normally supporting [those playing `pieces falling into the holes 9.A The coin slide elevating the playing pieces that a coin placed on the said slide and moved inside the casing will permit the said mechanism to be operated by the handle E so as to successively elevatea certain number of playing. pieces to a point where they i' member I3 is so associated with the mechanism for rearwardly, thereby aording means f or moving the said panel in a rearward direction so as to bring its holes I2' into registry with the goals or holes 9 of the game board 8, thus permitting any previously supported playing piecesto drop onto ture play. y

vSuitably secured to the upper surface of the of which is preferably, though not necessarily,

the inclined chute 4 and become available for fuof a general hair pin shape with its centrallyl bent portion extending around lthe lower edge of its associated goal 9 and its substantially parallel legs extending upwardly and separated at their ends so as to allow suitable space for the entry of playing pieces into its confines. One of the legs of each barrier I6 is bent outwardly, as at I6', around a hole IE! provided at a prearranged point in the game board 8 with reference to the goal 9 with which `the particular barrier is associated. Some Aoi the barriers are longer than others and are thereby capable of maintaining a greater number of playing pieces within their confines than those which are shorter. When .a certain number 0I" playing pieces have entered a certain barrier and havebu'ilt or extended their line up to the outwardly bent part if",-theV next playing piece entering that barrier will roll over to the hole Il! located within the confines :of the'.

said outwardly bent part, and will thereupon pass downwardly through said hole. Since the panel .SI12-'does not extend in asupporting position be- -ne'ath-any -hole except the particular .goals -9 .which are locatedzjust above .the centrally `curved V:,.part of thebarriers t6, Ythe playing pieces enter- .ing .thefholesl are free to-drop therethrough. Underlying :each of theholes- I@ is -a counter-bal- ,anced --channel lmember I'i which is pivotally mounted at its rear-end on any suitable-pivot such Vas ashaft-extending Yacrossthe inside of the cassing.' A-playing pieceentering any of Vthe holes I0 will drop upon a channel member Il, and by reason of -its added'weight will cause the said .member 'to move downwardly-about .its pivot to .a .vpositionwhereby a resilient -arm of a normally open switch I8is encountered .and closed. The switches -IB are-each provided with .double convtactpointa one ci whichis electrically connected to.Y an individual electro-magnet Ztl, which .is also Aconnected in .the .circuit leading .to .the .source of power. The .other'cont'actpoint of eachswitch `.I-8..-is connected Ain an electrical circuitv leading -`from a .source .of .electrical .power to an electro- .magnet ".21, .the armature 22 of which .isprovided withagate .that .iszadapted .to close the openingflg-.inthe-.partition 2. When any one of the ...switches .f8 is `closedohe electro-.magnet 2l is en- --ergized4 .thereby causing' its `armature 22 to move so .as .to carry thg 1 gate'. 23 intoa position vclosing Ythe .opening 3, thus ,preventingfany playing de- .Vices Afrom :passing finto a position where they `maybecomeavailablei" or immediate play. In .or- .der Vto move vthe armature 22 and the gate 23 .back into their. normal positions, the coin slide lf3 iis .provided with .a dovmwardly disposedpro- .'jec'tion lia Ythat encounters the said gate when y.the coin slide .is moved rearwardly.

Mountedlatthe-rear-end of the casing vis a cabi- `netZ'llLhaving, its interior divided .into a number l f i.individual v.compartments which are. normally .closed by glasslpane'led'doors'Z. `The compartiments are .each .associated'with a V.certain barrier 'IB and goalS, and if so desired a'certain .desig- `fnating mark .or vnumeral mayvgbe displayed on .the .gamefboard near each goal Tand also on'the corresponding Idoor 125 having an association therewith. The compartments are Vfor .the'pur- .pose .of holding'prze's or articles of merchandise, and by skillfully directing such anumber oi' the .fpl'ayingpieces into v.any on'e of the Vbarriers that the las't one played islfinallycaused to pass through its associated hole lll, the door'25of the particular .compartment associated withfthe'bary:rier andfhle lll-through .which the playing .piece A.has passed, lis thereupon .opened and rthe vconfterits. of this .compartment made Aavailable to the Y playing piece passing through .the hole YShould a Yplaying piece be located .in any one of Ythrough the hole l0',

successful player, The doors are each normally maintained in a closed position by a centrally pivoted latch member 26, the forward end of which detachably engages with a catch on the door. The rear end of the latch members are each secured to the armature of the particular electro-magnet 2E which is associated therewith. When a certain switch I8 is closed by a playing piece passing through a hole l5 and actuating its associated channel member l'! in. a downward direction, the particular electro-magnet connectthe switch is energized, thereby causing its armature to move the connected latch member to a position whereby its associated door is opened. Each' door is preferably provided with a leaf spring Vi'l which throws the door open when the latter becomes unlatched. A separate electric contact point 26', connected in multiple with a signal giving device i9, such as a bell, is associated with each latch member 26, and when the said latch member is moved to an unlatching position it contacts with the contact .point 2.6 and completes the circuit tothe bell, which continues ringing until the door is closed.

A hinged panel 3E) normally held by the weight of an article .resting thereon. is a horizontal posivtion against the floor of each compartment is moved upwardly by a spring hinge to a position closing the door opening when the saiddoor 25 .is unlatched and the article removed.

Located near the top rear end Aoi the playing board .is a hole l! 0 which also has a channel member Il andasingle contactswitch IB associated therewith. Positioned directly in iront of the hole t0 are .a number oi aligned holes or goals i 9 each of which is normally closed by the slidable `supporting panel l2.

YMounted on the panel l2 and :normally positioned directly beneath the goals 9, are a corresponding number of electromagnets 2l', which are connected in .series with the switch 18. The armatures of the magnets 2l ,are .adapted to project upwardly through .small openings provided in the Ypanel l2, and are so vactuated when the switch i8 is vclosed by a the goals '9' when another playing piece passes the armatures of the electro-magnets 2i will project upwardly and boost the said playing piece from the particular goal within whichit was lodged, thereby allowing it to proceed down to the nextgoal directly in front. Thus by directinga certain number of playing pieces into the hole lil', .another playing piece previously entering the rear goal 9 may be moved in successive stages downwardly from one goal to another and finally .into the hole I!) which is last'in line. A playing piece passing through this y particularV hole will close a switch I8 in the manner described and will thereby also bring about the opening of a door associated with a particular compartment.

suitably positioned at points near the open ends vof the vbarriers I6 are a numberof upwardly disposed .pins28 which are commonly employed as hazards in gam-es of this kind. A spiral spring `29 `normally maintains the coin slide member I3 Vin an outward disposed position.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art vthat my invention is susceptible of numerous changes Awithrespect to vform, shape and minor details of construction. It is, therefore, to be understood .that vthe appended claims shall determine the .limits my invention may assume rather than p the .exactdisclosures herein made.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a cabinet including a member providing a ball-playing surface provided with a ball-seat or pocket; a housing extending above said playing surface at one end of the latter and including an article storage compartment having an open side; a closure member movably mounted upon the said housing and normally closing the said open side of said 'article storage compartment; means normally urging the said closure member'into open position; means normally latching the said closure member in closed position against the action of said urging means; and means actuated by a ball entering said ballseat or pocket for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said closureV member so as to permit the latter to move into open position under the action of said urging means.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of: a cabinet including a member providing a ball-playing surface provided with a ball-seat or pocket; a housing extending above said playing surface at one end of the latter and including an article storage compartment having an open side; a closure member movably mounted upon the said housing and normally closing the said open side of said article storage compartment; means normally urging the said closure member into open position; means normally latching the said closure member in closed position against the action of said urging means; and means including an electromagnetic device actuated by a ball entering said ball-seat or pocket for releasing said latching means from latching engagement with said closure member so as to permit the latterA to move into open position under the action of said urging means.

EDMUND C. FEY. 

